A contingent of leading Australian architects, engineers and property developers are spending this week touring some of the world's most innovative timber projects as part of a UK field tour with Wood Solutions. BPN editor David Wheeldon joined the tour.
The Wood Solutions tour is all about showcasing the latest in timber design, engineering and construction, and inspiring our own building industry to make use of the advances which have been pioneered in Europe.
It's contended that we are on the cusp of a 'wood revolution' that will transform the way architects and engineers design and build many residential and commercial structures. Something welcomed by groups such as Planet Ark, which is supporting the cause and also on the tour (check out the Make It Wood blog for coverage of the tour).
A highlight came with a presentation from Andrew Waugh, the architect behind an entirely timber apartment building named Stadthaus. The nine-storey London high-rise is the tallest timber residential building in the world.
The building has been assembled using a cross-laminated timberpanel system pioneered by manufacturers KLH of Austria and is like an extra large form of plywood, arriving on site in panels more than 10 metres in length. The load-bearing walls and floor slabs but also stair and lift cores entirely from timber.
Australia is now expected to pip this record. Stay tuned to A&D for further reports next.Image: Will Pryce via e-architect
